These Toffee Apple Cupcakes Are What Autumn Dreams Are Made Of
Packed with comforting cinnamon flavours and tart apple and drizzled with caramel frosting!
They’ve pretty much cemented themselves as one of our favourite fall treats
Toffee apple cupcakes for Autumn? Ground-breaking. Oh but they are, so much so they’ve pretty much cemented themselves as one of our favourite fall treats. Ok, daily fall treats if we’re going to be pedantic about it.
We don’t use this word lightly because, well, we know we have a national aversion to it but in this case, we must rise to the challenge because the occasion calls for it. They are moist.
From their frosted top to their soft and fluffy bottoms, they are m-o-i-s-t through and through. There. We did it. Used the worst adjective in the English language and nothing awful happened. 2020 – it’s the year of personal growth, fellas.
Packed with comforting cinnamon flavours and tart apple and drizzled with caramel frosting, they’re the ideal bitesize snack for elevenses… and twelveses and oneses. You get the idea.
They’re the ideal bitesize snack for elevenses!
SERVES
PREP:
COOK:
EASY
INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
125g unsalted butter, softened
300g self-raising flour
2tsp ground cinnamon
225g light brown sugar
120ml maple syrup
4 eggs
170g grated apples (around 3 medium apples)
For the frosting:
175g unsalted butter, softened
350g icing sugar
2tbsp Dulce de leche
2tbsp whole milk
Brown sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 175°C and pop your paper cases in to your cupcake pan
Beat your butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between, followed by the flour, cinnamon and maple syrup,
Mix until all the ingredients are fully combined then fold in the grated apple.
Fill each case to 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes until risen and springy when touched. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing to a baking rack to finish cooling.
To make the frosting mix the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer until pale and soft. Add the icing sugar, syrup and milk. Turn the mixer on low and gradually increase the speed. Whip for 5 minutes, if the frosting looks too stiff add a splash more milk until you reach a nice piping consistency.
Once the cupcakes have cooled fill a piping bag, fitted with an open star nozzle with the maple syrup frosting and pipe each cupcake with a swirl. Drizzle each cake with some caramel sauce and chopped toffee pieces.
These staple pieces come in many shapes and sizes, and this week we're sharing our hero products of the collar world, whether it be striking shirts, cosy jumpers or dressed down blouses.
Layering is one of the biggest pros of cool weather dressing, and this season we’re head over heels for all things statement collars and their versatility across multiple ‘gram-worthy’ lewks. These staple pieces come in many shapes and sizes, and this week we’re sharing our hero products of the collar world, whether it be striking shirts, cosy jumpers or dressed down blouses.
Whilst the likes of Ms Chung has been rocking far pricier versions of this style for years, the high street has some very welcome chic and stylish offerings to add some trend-led fashion to your wardrobe without breaking the bank. And whilst shopping IRL still proves tricky, finding the perfect versatile piece like the humble collared shirt has the potential to transform multiple outfits and offer real longevity to your A/W wardrobe! What’s not to love?!
Zoe
I bought this chunky knit statement collar cardigan as I loved the buttons up the front and I’ve been really into autumnal knitwear recently. Paired with my Topshop flared jeans and buttoned up to the top, I think it gives quite a 70’s vibe! I’m going to dig out a beret too as I think this might top off the entire outfit!
I’ve picked this super pretty pink shirt from H&M with a gorgeous collar. As it’s so sweet I’ve decided to pair it with some rough wash mom jeans khaki Chelsea boots and a matching hat. Throw on another shirt for good measure because the more the merrier when it comes to layers!
I used to be obsessed with the Peter Pan / Pixi collars back in the day! I’ve styled this ruffle trim knit from Zara with black jeans, penny loafers and an oversized trench for a pared-back, understated look that lets the frou-frou collar do its thing, while the rest of the outfit takes a minimal back seat.
I love a good cardigan and especially one which has been jazzed up with a statement collar and some chunky buttons, and I’m obsessed with this one from And Other Stories. I’ve styled it with some straight leg black jeans and a pair of chunky Dr Martens for an effortless but stylish look.
I’ve combined girly and masculine with this look which is a combo I always find makes the most ‘me’ and comfortable outfits. The statement collar and ruffles are made more cutesy with the floral print and balanced out by the slouchy jeans and oversized blazer. I love chucking one on when it’s not quite cool enough for a proper coat yet and this one ties in nicely with the chunky trainers! A failsafe autumn look!
September Book Club 2020: Queenie by Candice Carty Williams
This month, we had the pleasure of reading Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams – winner of the British Book Awards Book of the Year.
September’s book club pick needs no introduction but we’re going to serve you one up anyway. This month, we had the pleasure of reading Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams – winner of the British Book Awards Book of the Year.
It tells the tale of 25-year-old, Queenie Jenkins, a Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle-class peers. When she takes a break from her long-term boyfriend, Tom, her life starts to unravel and she seeks comfort in all the wrong places, including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth.
Find out how Team Zoella enjoyed one of the most anticipated reads of 2020!
Darcey
I absolutely loved Queenie! I inhaled this book within a few days and found myself not wanting to put it down as I was so invested in Queenie’s life. Carty-Williams explores so many issues so perfectly, from mental health, to consent and to racism, you really feel as if you follow Queenie navigating through these issues, which seem to have entangled themselves throughout all aspects of her life. This book isn’t short either of some hilarious moments, Queenie and her friends feel so real and that’s what makes this book so engrossing too, I almost felt as if I was her friend too trying to help her through this difficult time. Would 100% recommend!
Rating – 4/5 Would you recommend? Yes
Lareese
Well, what a knock-your-socks-off debut from Carty-Williams! Queenie is a luminous and timely novel, sparkling with honesty and grit. I felt immediately engrossed and invested in Queenie’s complex character; her lived experience, her vulnerability, her humour and her often hilarious missteps. Carty-Williams does such an incredible job of handling a variety of nuanced topics, and in doing so she writes a very real, raw and flawed protagonist you’ll be utterly gutted to leave behind.
Rating – 3.5/5 Would you recommend? Yes
Danielle
Being named debut novel of the year AND book of the year is obviously amazing but it comes with the downside of people having SO much expectation when they pick up the book. Similarly to ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ I picked up Queenie when it was at the peak of the hype! Right off the bat the characters we’re completely fully fleshed and for me, the best part of the book. I loved how Candice played with dialogue in the form of texts and emails making it feel truly modern as that is where so many of our conversations take place. Queenie made a great protagonist and she was extremely likeable, I found it both frustrating and upsetting when she wound up in awful situations, but they were realistic and unfortunately common. Definitely give Queenie a read but try and squirrel away the hype and any notion that it has a ‘Bridget Jones’ vibe.
Rating – 3.5/5 Would you recommend? Yes
Maddie
Queenie was hailed as the modern age Bridget Jones’ diary, a story of a mid 20s Jamaican British woman living in London. Queenie is stumbling through life, making mistakes (repeatedly) and that’s what makes her real and believable as a character. Where Bridget Jones is fairly lighthearted and surface level, Queenie goes into some very dark places with regards to mental health, trauma and sexual encounters. That being said there are a few amazingly cringe and hilarious moments speckled throughout and the general tone of the book is written in a way that makes you feel like you’re one of Queenie’s friends and I really did feel attached to her by the end.
We’re all for giving in to our basic bitch instincts and just letting October run amok with our senses. With that in mind, here are 20 things to do this month.
There’s just something about those crisp days and all that hygge hype
Listen, when it comes to Autumn, we all shamelessly lose our sh*t. There’s just something about those crisp days and all that hygge hype that gets the people going. So why fight it?
We’re all for giving in to our basic bitch instincts and just letting October run amok with our senses. With that in mind, here are 20 things to do this month.
1 Transition your Insta feed. Go get that autumn aesthetic
2 Watch Enola Holmes – it’s the cosy, comforting, feminist film we all need rn. God bless you, Netflix.
3 Delight in the breath-taking television that is Bake Off
4 Stock up on your pumpkin scented candles. Get hoardin’ those sweet gourdy wicks
5 Start using the word hygge to describe everything again…
6 Even though you’re not entirely convinced you know how to pronounce it, so you just end up making a noise that sounds partly like a word but mostly like a burp
7 Turn your clocks back an hour…
8 And have the great bi-annual debate – wait, does this mean we’re gaining an hour or losing an hour? Nobody knows. Just hibernate, eat your cinnamon buns and be done with it
9 Stand in the shower for 10 minutes longer than you need to because it’s cold out there and the journey to the towel is just too treacherous
10 Collect a bunch of conkers for absolutely no reason other than LOOK HOW SHINY THEY ARE
11 Proceed to test out conker vs spider theory
12 Conveniently forget to shave. Armpits ‘n’ legs are hibernating, why disturb them?
13 Consider how the socks and sandals thing is actually really rather practical
14 Dedicate at least one caption to F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”
15 (Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it) Take a photo stood in a pile of leaves. Extra points if there’s a squirrel present
16 Buy a new knit and convince yourself you’ll wear it all the time, even though it’s itchy af. Narrator: she will never wear it
17 Wee yourself a little bit at the thought of pumpkin picking
18 Reunite with the Sanderson Sisters. All these years later and here we are, still finding Thackery Binx attractive
19 Cook up some pumpkin pancakes. We know a great little recipe. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
20 Spook up your home ready for Halloween with seasonal touches. Translation: hang up a bat garland and some of that really annoying cobweb stuff on your mantel, sigh and sit back down again
The Ultimate Hygge Inspired Autumnal And Christmas Bedding
There's nothing quite like sliding into your favourite bed sheets and blankets, whether it be your 3pm WFH slump or a 9pm early nighter.
Ahhh- that fresh sheet feeling. There’s nothing quite like sliding into your favourite bed sheets and blankets, whether it be your 3pm WFH slump or a 9pm early nighter, creating an oasis of a bedroom that allows you to fully switch off is something worth investing in.
We’re rushing to pimp out our bed situ and revel in the comfort of a weighted blanket!
Whilst the summer saw us ditch the duvet and camp out next to a fan or window, the comfort of a cool, rainy day means we’re rushing to pimp out our bed situ and revel in the comfort of a weighted blanket and cuppa in hand. We’ve swapped notes with the Danish to channel the ultimate in hygge living into our homes this season because now more than ever is a time to lean in and enjoy the moments of rest, recuperation and reflection that have come with such a turbulent year.
Here’s to replicating that dreamy hotel bed feeling every day- apologies in advance if it makes your 7am alarm feel all the more tempting to snooze.
10 Scary Reads to Sink Your Fangs Into This Halloween
From spine-chilling Stephen King classics to freaky fiction guaranteed to have you sleeping with the light on, here’s a round-up of the boo-kish delights to gorge on this Halloween.
Seeking a deliciously dark, macabre tale featuring characters and plots you’d rather hide from than sit in your bedroom with? Glad to be acquainted.
Those with a nervous disposition should probs sit this one out.
From spine-chilling Stephen King classics to freaky fiction guaranteed to have you sleeping with the light on, here’s a round-up of the boo-kish delights to gorge on this Halloween. Those with a nervous disposition should probs sit this one out. Go cuddle some kittens for a while.
Let’s ease you in gently! Despite the title, this is not your average run of the mill scary monster novel. This is a moving classic that’ll have you mopping up your tears with the nearest fake spiderweb or black cat you can find. Who knew a tree could make you so emotional.
Misery by Stephen King
Nobody does the stick-your-book-in-the-freezer fiction quite like Stephen King. Misery is about a famous novelist who crashes his car in a snowstorm and is rescued by none other than his mentally-unstable number one fan.
Paul Sheldon has plans to make the transition from writing historical romances featuring heroine Misery Chastain to publishing literary fiction. Annie Wilkes, Sheldon’s self-proclaimed number one fan, rescues the author from the scene of a car accident. The former nurse takes care of him in her remote house, but becomes irate when she discovers that the author has killed Misery off in his latest book. Annie keeps Sheldon prisoner while forcing him to write a book that brings Misery back to life. If you’re after a book that will be best placed locked in a cupboard with a padlock, this is a good shout.
Our Zoella Book Club read for October! A modern reworking of a classic tale, this is one literary rabbit hole you’ll be all too glad to stumble down. When Alice’s troubled best friend Bunny goes missing, she becomes obsessed with finding her. She begins retracing her steps and looking for clues in her pigeonhole when she discovers an invitation to Wonderland: the elite party to end all parties. Could this lead her to Bunny? Or is this really a case of finding herself?
The Deaths of December is the ultimate anti-Christmas gift, all wrapped up with a bloody bow to boot. When an advent calendar arrives at the police station, DC Becky Greene makes a gruelling discovery behind each door. As the country relaxes into festive cheer, Greene and DS Eddie Carmine must race against time to catch the killer. Because there are four doors left, and four murders will fill them… It’s an absolute cracker.
Action, suspense, plot, this book has it all going on. The first in a five-book thriller series by Gregg Hurtwitz, Orphan X is the story of Evan Smoak, who joined a top-secret operation known as the ‘Orphan Program’ when he was 12. Raised and trained as an Orphan, he was sent to bad places to do things the government denied ever happened. Then, he broke with the program, using everything he learned to disappear. But someone is on his trail. If the blurb’s anything to go by, you’re in for a nail-biting read.
A gripping high-school thriller like no other, The Magpie Society: One for Sorrow is a book you’ll want to devour in one fell swoop.
Illumen Hall is an elite boarding school of tradition and achievement. But tragedy strikes when the body of a student is found dead on the beach – and on her back is a tattoo of a magpie. For new student Audrey, it is just another strange and unsettling thing about her new surroundings, along with the secrets the school seems to hide and its weird obsession with magpies. For her roommate Ivy, the death of her friend Lola is just one thing she desperately wants to get past – and having a new student asking questions and cluttering up her personal space is not helping a bit. But the two girls are forced into an unlikely alliance when a mysterious podcast airs, with one sinister headline: I KNOW WHO KILLED LOLA. AND ONE OF YOU IS NEXT.
Chanting a ghost’s name five times in front of a candlelit mirror at a spooky boarding school… Never going to end well, guys. Asking for trouble, that! When Bobbie, her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to summon the legendary ghost, Bloody Mary, for a Halloween dare, it looks like nothing eerie happens, until Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror that says: five days. Read it at your own risk, preferably five days before Halloween for peak paranoia.
A dark YA novel with one utterly compelling unreliable narrator. Seventeen-year-old Hannah Gold has always been treated like a grown up. As the only child of two New York professionals, she’s been traveling the world and functioning as a miniature adult since the day she was born. But that was then. Now, Hannah has been checked into a remote treatment facility, stripped of all autonomy and confined to a single room. Hannah knows there’s been a mistake. What happened to her roommate that summer was an accident. As soon as the doctor and judge figure out that she isn’t a danger to herself or others, she can get back to her life of promise and start her final year at school. Until then, she’s determined to win over the staff and earn some privileges so she doesn’t lose her mind to boredom.
But then she’s assigned a new roommate. At first, Lucy is the perfect project to keep Hannah’s focus off all she is missing at home. But Lucy may be the one person who can make Hannah confront the secrets she’s avoiding – and the dangerous games that landed her in confinement in the first place.
It’ll have you second-guessing yourself right the way through.
A missing girl, a desperate family, a detective at breaking point – this one’s got all the ticking-clock appeal you could ever want in your Halloween reading. If you liked The Fall, you’ll be all over this crime fiction treat. It’s the stuff of nightmares, in a good way.
Now a major Netflix series, Shirley Jackson’s best-known novel is as creepy and unsettling as they come. There’s nothing like a slow-burning psychological horror to scare the bejesus out of you.
What haunting reads will you be sinking your teeth into this Halloween?
We caught up with The Bag Life of Beck to talk about her online presence, how she helps so many others with their body hangups and more.
First off, how are you and how have you been coping in 2020?
I’m really good thank you!! 2020 has been a strange one hasn’t it but I’m used to isolation from being so poorly so it’s not a huge surprise for me and I’ve adapted quite well to the new world at the moment.
Tell us about yourself and your presence online!
So I’m 29 years old and I’m a mum to an incredible little boy. I would describe myself as an introvert however, some would think otherwise because of my Instagram!! I’m a huge animal lover and if I could I’d own my own rescue sanctuary. I’m a very positive person and I like to emit my posi energy via my Instagram. I’m also a very normal human being so again I just try and stay real, raw and relatable. [Follow Becks on Instagram here.]
Why do you think it’s so important to normalise all bodies?
Growing up I saw the same desire able bodies I also saw magazines pick them apart for having cellulite or rolls or for them having a bad hair day. It added so much pressure to my teenage self and what I thought I had to look like to be accepted. So as you can imagine being 20 and being told I needed an ileostomy was terrifying because who’s going to accept me now I’m broken!? It was a very tough and lonely time for me and I just don’t want anyone else to feel the way I did. So I share my story and share how my body looks in hope to change what society deems as normal. Because let’s face it ‘normal’ is different for all of us so therefore we should all be accepted just the way we are.
You’ve been an Ostomate since 2011, can you tell us more about what that means?
So I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2009 which is a form of Inflammatory Bowel disease. This is when we get ulcers and long-lasting inflammation in our colon and rectum. Symptoms can be bleeding, bloating and pain. It got to a point where I was going to the toilet 25+ times a day and losing so much blood and weight that a surgeon decided to remove my colon. Which means that I’d need to have a stoma, so my small intestine pokes out of my tummy and I now poo into a bag called. This is called and Ileostomy however you can have a Colostomy as well. So we call ourselves Ostomates.
If you could any advice to someone about to become an ostomate what would it be?
It’ll be ok, we are very resilient and being Chronically is teaches us strength that we never knew we ever had. You’ve overcome so much already and withstood the storm, you can take this on as well. Having an Ostomy doesn’t make you any less of a human nor does it reduce your worth. Life for me started again when I had my bag fitted and I’ve never looked back.
What are some of the best things about being online?
The community. The community is wonderful and connecting with other amazing and incredible people too. Learning other’s stories and learning from them too. Seeing a whole new world open up in regards to self-love and body acceptance has been really blissful. Especially since I’ve been advocated for years now it’s wonderful to see the world become more open to different.
What are your top tips for switching off and relaxing?
I love to have a bath with a Gin, candles and an audiobook. It helps me switch off from the real world and just have some me time! As I don’t get it often with the mini human!!
In terms of myself, I need to take my own advice more. I’m always helping others and giving amazing advice, however, when it comes to me I’m terrible. So I’m learning to listen to myself more.
What does your perfect weekend look like?
A weekend away with a hot tub!! My family and just the sound of the sea or the countryside. Somewhere away from the madness of the world.
What do you always carry with you?
I always carry a little perfume with me, my favourite smell is Armani because it’s you. It’s so fresh and I love freshening up with it.
What would your last ever meal be?
Nachos. Honestly, I absolutely adore them and all the cheese you can fit on it. Especially the orange runny cheese. Just delicious.
What is one positive piece of advice you could give to our audience?
Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool 💙
Epic Garlic Parmesan & Pumpkin Stuffed Pasta Shells
This epic parmesan & pumpkin pasta recipe is a dish you'll want to keep coming back to all through fall.
There’s a comfort that comes with preparing a comforting meal for a hungry household
The simple pleasure of a shared meal seems to get even better in the Autumn months. As the days blink by and the vignette of the evening sky appears at the window at 4pm, there’s a comfort that comes with preparing a comforting meal for a hungry household; where the hours pass effortlessly between forkfuls of pasta and sweet ordinary conversations about work and weariness. Families being families, couples mirroring eating habits, pausing to celebrate the casual art form of dinner time togetherness – capturing a flavour, a memory, a familiar tradition for future you to recall and feast on with a joyful heart.
The same can be said for preparing a meal for yourself and only yourself. Taking time out of the virtual world to throw a recipe together and indulge in the ritual of eating is the ultimate form of self-care. Enjoy it.
Stuffed with creamy ricotta and pumpkin and smothered in creamy garlic & parmesan sauce
This epic parmesan & pumpkin pasta recipe is a dish you’ll want to keep coming back to all through fall. Stuffed with creamy ricotta and pumpkin and smothered in creamy garlic & parmesan sauce, it’ll have everyone hovering in the kitchen, impatiently waiting for the clatter of serving plates and cutlery to sound.
Best served warm, on a rainy Autumn day with crunchy bread for dipping.
SERVES 6
PREP:
40 MINS COOK:
25 MINS
MEDIUM
INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
For the stuffed pasta
Jumbo pasta shells (as many as your dish will fit!)
250g ricotta cheese
150g soft cheese
400g pumpkin puree
100g grated Parmesan
1 large egg
1 tablespoon chopped sage leaves
Pinch of nutmeg
For the creamy garlic sauce
50g butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
50g all-purpose flour
300ml cups milk
100ml Double cream
100g freshly grated Parmesan
Preheat oven to 180° celcius
Lightly coat your baking dish with butter.
In a pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente (slightly undercooked)
Drain and pop it on a baking sheet to cool
In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, cream cheese, pumpkin puree, parmesan, egg, sage leaves and nutmeg; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
For the creamy garlic sauce; melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add garlic, and stir for 2 minutes.
Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in milk and double cream, until incorporated,
Stir parmesan until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
Spread 1/2 your cream sauce in the prepared baking dish.
Stuff your pasta shells with the pumpkin mix and place into your baking dish. We used a piping bag, but you could use a zip lock bag or spoon it in
When you’ve filled the dish with your pasta shells top them with the remaining creamy sauce.
We topped our with a bit of cheddar, you could also add breadcrumbs for an extra crunch!
Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
This week we've teamed up with Bobbi Brown to select our top picks and tell you how we got on.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics creates makeup and skincare to help people look and feel more like themselves with more confidence! They strive to enable people to enhance their natural beauty with straightforward, easy-to-use cosmetics in timeless hues, all formulated to create a smooth, natural, and healthy appearance.
This week we’ve teamed up with Bobbi Brown to select our top picks and tell you how we got on. From products we might have used for years to brand new bits we’ve been dying to try, find out how we got on with this eclectic mix of skincare and makeup…
This post was made in collaboration with Bobbi Brown and contains gifted product.
Zoe
My 5 chosen products were: Intensive Skin Serum Foundation, Intensive Skin Serum Concealer, Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in shade “Powder Pink”, Dual-Ended Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in “Peach Mimosa” and “Taupe” and Smokey Eye Mascara in Black. The skin serum foundation gives such a gorgeous, dewy finish and is perfect for those healthy, glowy skin days. I was having a good skin day when I tried this for the first time so I liked the amount of coverage this gives, however, I think if you prefer something a bit more opaque this might not be for you. I think a product like this as we come into the winter months will be so nice to use as I tend to get drier skin and this gives life back to your complexion. The concealer was also really lovely. Easy to blend and gave a good amount of coverage under my eyes. Paired with the serum foundation, these work really well together and are the perfect combination for no-makeup healthy-looking skin. I think my favourite product out of these and the one I was most impressed by, was the lip and cheek pot rouge. The pigmentation and blend-ability of this cream is off the scale. I used this on both my cheeks and my lips and I love the outcome. You also don’t need much at all! For my eyes I used the cream shadow stick in taupe all over my lid, blended with a fluffy brush and then used the peach mimosa shade in my inner corner and under my brow. I don’t tend to reach for cream shadows much as I love a matte finish on the lids, but as I have gone for a very all-over dewy, fresh look I thought this would go well! The mascara I then used is the smokey eye mascara and this is amazing at grabbing every single lash and fanning them out whilst also adding thickness!
The products I chose were: The Vitamin Enriched Base, Skin Foundation Stick in Warm Sand, Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil in Rich Brown, No Smudge Mascara, Shimmer Brick Compact and Crushed Lip Colour in Cabana. I started off with the vitamin-enriched base, the texture was lovely and it smoothed my skin instantly. I have rather oily skin so I was unsure if it could keep that at bay but It actually made my skin look way brighter and more plump with less of an oil shine. I then applied the foundation using a large foundation brush and I was obsessed with how nicely it blended. It’s a super buildable foundation too which I always love as it means I can wear it daytime or in the evening for a more full-glam look. My skin looked glowy and healthy after application and it also cancelled out a lot of my skin redness and blemishes which really impressed me. I worked on my eyebrows next and I really enjoyed using this brow pencil, because it’s angled it makes it really easy and smooth to draw on and add extra texture to your brows. The next product I used which was probably one of my favourites was the shimmer brick compact as it was so versatile! I used the darker shades across my eyelids and blended it up using a fluffy brush, I then applied the lightest shade on my brow bone and inner corner of my eyes to make them pop. I then used a blush brush and swiped it across all shades to highlight my nose, upper lip and cheeks. The shimmer was INSANE in the sunlight too, they could probably see me from space. I finished off my eyes using the no-smudge mascara which coated my lashes really easily and I definitely noticed a more defined curl in them too. My lashes are dead straight and I find even when I curl them then apply mascara, they still go back to being straight within 10 minutes. But after curling my lashes then applying this mascara, they maintained a slight curl alllll day which was amazing! Lastly, I used the crushed lip colour in Cabana, the most beautiful shade and glided onto the lips with ease, I now want this lipstick in every colour!
I’ve been using the Vitamin Enriched Face Base cream for years. It’s an oil-free primer/moisturiser packed with hydrating shea butter and vitamins. It absorbs beautifully, hydrating the skin and creating the perfect seamless base for makeup application. It’s also great on its own for those no-makeup days when you still want a bit of life in your complexion. The brow pencil is another firm fave. The slant tip makes application easy and the wax-based formula means it stays put all day. On my eyes, I’m wearing the Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Peach Mimosa, Taupe. I swiped the lighter shade straight across the lids and then dabbed the taupe onto the back of my hand, tapping it over the top to create some shadow and definition. Together, the two shades create an effortless & wearable eyeshadow that’s ideal for daytime. You can also take the taupe shade onto the lash line for a smokier look to see you through to evening. To finish off the eyes, I added a classic flick. I have pretty small peepers, so I always feel more put together when I have eyeliner on and this one doesn’t flake or smudge – music to my ears ‘cos this girls eyes just love to weep for no apparent reason. Finally, I went in with the highlighting powder down the centre of my nose and the semi-Matte Lip Color in Salmon to bring the peachy daytime look together. I love how the entire Bobbi Brown product offering works to enhance your natural beauty, rather than cover it up or work against it. Since I hit my late 20s, I’m all about barely-there makeup simply because a) it’s like my skin but better and b) it’s quick ‘n’ easy! This little everyday makeup look took about 10 mins from face base to salmon pout and I am HERE for that kinda convenience. Come thru, Bobbster!
I’ve never tried anything from Bobbi Brown before so it felt like such a treat to be able to give these beauties a whirl all in one go and get the full experience! I’m more loyal to my Nars Sheer Glow Foundation than anything else in life (other than H Styles) so it was always going to be hard to convert me, but I genuinely LOVED the finish of the Long-Wear Weightless Foundation (shade Ivory) and the Vitamin Enriched Face Base. My skin felt so soft and silky, and despite being lighter coverage than my normal base, it was super buildable and still offered a really pretty and perfected finish.
I was a little apprehensive when I first swatched the Bronzer (shade Natural) as the pigment was farrrr stronger than my usual pick, but it was easy to avoid any harsh lines by tapping off excess powder and applying with a light hand. It’s definitely not one to put on in a badly lit bathroom or on an early morning as I think it would be easy to go overboard. Regardlessly, the colour gave a gorgeous sun-kissed glow and made me pine after a summer holiday! I also popped a wash of this over my lids which tied everything together and makes it so easy to do a minimal product face.
Mascaras are always a bit trial and error for me but overall I enjoyed using the Eye-Opening Mascara, in particular how jet black the formula is! I did find by the end of the day it had transferred slightly under my eyes, however, I did test it on an unusually warm September day. The bronzer and mascara combined made for a really simple but lovely eye look which can be applied super quickly and effortlessly.
Finally, I chose the High Shimmer Lip Gloss in the shade Bare Sparkle which is a beautiful champagne colour. I’m normally a matte lip kinda gal but again wanted to try something a little different and I’m so glad I did. The colour payoff isn’t mega noticeable but for a gloss that’s to be expected! It lasted really well when eating and drinking and dried down to not be sticky or feel invasive on the lips which was really lovely.
Having tried the products a few more times both individually and with my everyday makeup products I’m sold on the ‘you but a bit sleeker’ finish they give! The primer has become a staple already that I know I’ll be repurchasing as soon as I’ve finished this pot.
Bobbi Brown has always been one of those brands that you can guarantee quality with and I already own a few lip products made by them, I also went to get a makeover there in the article where we tried high street makeovers and loved the products. Vitamin Enriched Face Base – this has been all over my feed the last few months and although it’s not a new product it seems like a lot of people have ‘fallen back in love with it’ and I can see why. It’s a beautiful primer for make up it makes your skin feel really dewy and ready for foundation. I have dry skin and HATE applying foundation to my natural porous face, my makeup always looks terrible within hours. Face Base smells delicious which makes it a pleasure to use, all-around super happy with this pick, highly recommend.
The second thing I wanted to try was Bobbi Brown skincare, I’ve really found a new love and respect for skincare this year, possibly because I’ve worn so little makeup and it kind of falls into more of a ‘self-care’ vibe which, let’s face it, I’m all about during 2020. I’m all set with cleansers and have way too many moisturisers I need to use up but something I usually run low on is serums. I picked up the Extra Repair Serum as it’s main goals firm the look of skin and moisturise. It is for ‘normal to extra dry’ skin types and we all know which end of that scale I’m sat on. The milky texture feels lovely going on and I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my skin, I don’t think it’ll look vastly different in 6 weeks but that’s ok as I don’t think this product promises that.
The third product I wanted to try was eye shadow. I know lots of people I follow use the Cream Shadow Sticks but these tend to leave my eyes a bit greasy looking so I went with Burnished Bronze Essential Multicolor Eye Shadow Palette. These are just the kind of colours I want to pick up every day and I must say I am SUPER impressed. The formula is so easy to work with and I constantly use every shade. I start with the top left bronze and pop that in my crease, above the crease (for my hooded eyes) outer corner and smoke out under my eye. I then go in with the darker brown to darken up the crease and outer corner. I use a touch of the gold on my inner lid space and then the light pinky colour in my inner corner and as a highlighter just under my brow bone. If you’re looking for an everyday palette with a lovely big mirror this is the product for you, BIG FAN.
The other two products I chose we’re mostly to fill gaps in my own collection. As I’ve mentioned I’m a dry faced gal so I don’t tend to powder too much but needed something simple and light to get those areas that become a bit shinier over time. This one is a lovely powder compact, great big mirror and a gorgeous finish. I picked up the classic creamy, semi-matte lipstick in the shade beige as I’m always after the perfect browny-nude to combat my naturally very pink lips. This is such a gorgeous formula and colour and it’s the only thing I’ve been wearing since I got it!
I had a few Bobbi Brown items in my makeup draw (mostly lip products) that I really love but there were a few products that I’ve heard great things about that I was dying to try. The items I chose were the Vitamin Enriched base, Nude Finish tinted moisturiser, Full coverage concealer, Smokey Eye Mascara, Bronzing powder in Natural and the perfectly defined long-wear brow pencil in blonde. I started with the base which is one of Bobbi Browns hero best selling products, and for good reason. It’s such a lovely thick rich consistency and makeup applied really well on top. Then I went in with the tinted moisturiser which is a really lovely lightweight moisturiser which made my skin look really glowy, it didn’t give much in the way of coverage but that is asking a lot from a moisturiser. In areas where I needed a bit more, I used a Bobbi Brown foundation from my kit which is actually now discontinued so I should probably look at upgrading it asap. I found that warming the concealer in my fingers before applying really helped it apply, it’s a very thick full coverage which is great for blemishes but a little goes a long way, especially when applying under the eye area. I was really pleasantly surprised by the bronzer, the pay off is amazing and I achieved a really bronzy look with just a couple of swipes, I also applied it to my eyes as eyeshadow to tie the whole look together. A great little trick when you don’t have any eyeshadow handy! My hero products from the entire look have to be the eye products. The eye pencil has shot straight to the top of my perfect products list, the colour is perfect for me and applies super easily. The mascara is also great, it doesn’t clump, flake or smudge and kept a curl all day. Finally, I used one of my own lip products from BB which is the crushed liquid lip in Peaches and Quiet. This is one of my favourite liquid lip products because unlike others it’s not drying at all and behaves much more like a gloss than a lipstick. Overall I really love the products, BB is definitely a really wearable makeup brand with products designed to still make you look like you and I’m on board with that.
The countdown to The Magpie Society: One For Sorrow publication day is officially on, with the first in the new YA gothic thriller series set to land on the shelves this October, 29.
The countdown to The Magpie Society: One For Sorrow publication day is officially on, with the first in the new YA gothic thriller series set to land on the shelves this October, 29.
One for Sorrow will be told via the alternating first person perspectives of the lead characters Audrey – written by Amy McCulloch – and Ivy – written by Zoe Sugg – with the narrative being jointly plotted by both authors.
In the start of a brand-new YA series for the authors, we meet the new girl from America – Audrey – and Ivy; her new roommate at Illumen Hall boarding school. Ivy is less than happy about having to share with the new girl, and the roommates get off to a tense start. But when a body of a girl is discovered at the school with a tattoo of a magpie on her back, Audrey and Ivy are drawn into the mystery behind this strange murder. As an unlikely friendship develops, the girls soon realise that there’s something very dangerous happening at their school.
Ahead of the big publication day, we asked Amy & Zoe about their joint literary venture, from what it’s like having a writing partner in crime / wing woman, to what we can expect from this deliciously dark and brooding story.
Here’s everything you need to know about your latest YA obsession!
What was the main inspiration behind The Magpie Society: One For Sorrow?
Zoe: Amy & I had worked together back in 2013-2016 as she was my editor for the Girl Online novels. We always talked about our love of PLL, true crime, tv dramas and horror and the idea of creating something similar ourselves became something we talked about regularly. We particularly loved the idea of a boarding school, superstitions, secrets and mystery.
Once we had that, the idea of a secret society named after magpies sprung to lifeAmy McCull
Amy: We’d had some really long chats about the kind of books and shows we love to read and watch, and from that, we knew we really wanted to ground our new book series in really particularly British traditions, omens and superstitions. One of those is how we ‘salute’ magpies – something a lot of us do, but we don’t necessarily give a second thought as to where the tradition comes from! Once we had that, the idea of a secret society named after magpies sprung to life, and the rest of the book unfolded from there…
Describe the book in 3 emojis…
🦅 🏫 🎙 (If the bird could be a magpie that would be perfect!)
How did you come up with the name for the book?
Zoe: As a large part of the book is based around the Magpie Society and the superstitions surrounding magpies, we felt that the creepy nursery rhyme “One for sorrow, two for joy” felt completely apt. Not only is the rhyme eery, but having sorrow in the title also made complete sense with the overall plot of the book.
Amy: Yes, definitely a simple one! Once we’d settled on the rhyme, it made so much sense to title our first book after the first line in the poem.
How long did it take to write the book?
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Zoe: We started plotting the book loosely back in 2017/2018 and then really focused on characters and storyline through 2019 before knuckling down and starting the writing at the start of 2020
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Amy: Probably six months of intense writing, and then some very fast editing! But because we had plotted the book so well beforehand, the writing came so much more easily…
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What comes first the plot or the characters?
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Zoe: It’s a bit of both. Amy and I knew the storyline and where we wanted the book and the series to go, and then characters became a lot more clear once we knew this. However, when you get a real sense of a character you can also adjust certain elements of the storyline to work well with them as you write too.
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Amy: As Zoe said, a bit of both! For this book, we knew that we wanted to write from the points of view of two different characters, to reflect both of our writing voices and bring a unique structure to the novel. So developing Ivy and Audrey was a massive focus for us in the beginning.
Can you tell us a little bit about your co-writing process – how did that work, and how does your writing process/writing habits differ as individual authors?
After lockdown happened, we used WhatsApp, voice notes and face times to chat about different bits we were writing and go back and forth with one another. Zoe Sugg
Zoe: Co-writing is so much fun. Having that person to bounce ideas back and forth with, to build scenes and characters with and combine ideas makes it such an enjoyable experience. If I was ever stuck for a word or was having a bit of a writer’s block, having Amy a text or phone call away always helped. We have written alternate chapters as a character each and so before lockdown, we were able to bullet-point what we wanted to happen in each chapter and work on those with each other in real life. After lockdown happened, we used WhatsApp, voice notes and face times to chat about different bits we were writing and go back and forth with one another. We’re both pretty similar when it comes to our writing processes however I’ve learnt over the years that my sentences can get very long and I can get very waffly! I prefer writing dialogue and feel like this is one of my stronger points, whereas I think Amy is particularly fabulous at scene-setting and description. So together we made for an epic team!
Amy: Zoe is spot on. We’re pretty complementary as writers, and we both have different skills. Zoe has a fantastic, natural ear for dialogue, and I love to build atmosphere. We plotted the whole thing together, but wrote our individual chapters separately (and then there are a few interim chapters – the podcasts – that we wrote together). This is the first book I’ve written with a co-author and I’ve loved doing it! Writing can be quite isolating and having someone to bulldoze through writer’s block with has been so much fun, and I think the book is so much stronger for it.
The book tackles some dark topics, was the modern gothic genre always something you both wanted to tap into?
Zoe: Yes! We love watching and reading a good twisty storyline. Something with depth, mystery and a lot of drama, so we always wanted the book to have a bit of all that mixed in.
Amy: Absolutely – also when you have all long, twisted history of England to play with, and a big creepy, meandering school built by the sea, with the waves crashing and the cliff edge crumbling… the gothic atmosphere just builds itself! Magpies too have such a fascinating history and mythology. It was brilliant to get to play with that.
How do you come up with your ideas? Is it something that happens all in one go before you write or as you go along?
Zoe: We had talked back and forth about things we definitely wanted to include in the novel but we also scheduled in lots of brainstorming meetings where we scribbled down a lot more detail. When it came to starting to write the bulk of the book, we already knew a lot about what we wanted to include. We definitely changed bits, added bits and removed bits as we went though. In fact, we made some quite big changes in our last round of edits!
Amy: I’m always on the hunt for great ideas, and in the long gestation period for these books, I was often sending links to shows or articles or images to Zoe saying, what do you think about this? Would this work for the story? We spent time on Pinterest and definitely had some strange internet searches. It’s amazing how much the plot can change direction throughout the writing and editing process, but we discussed all the ideas between us.
How does the writing process differ when you’re writing a series of connected fiction as opposed to a stand-alone book?
Zoe: Amy and I have planned out a much larger storyline across multiple potential books. Because of this, we have to make sure each book plants clues and Easter eggs along the way which has been new for me but I’ve enjoyed it so much. It’s also meant that this has taken us much longer!
We wanted to make the first book a satisfying read, though with a tantalising cliff hanger to keep readers intrigued for the next bookAmy McCuloch
Amy: Yes, this was something that was so important to Zoe and me, and is one of the reasons why it took so long to go from idea to finished first book! We’ve had to work in various layers of plot – we wanted to make the first book a satisfying read (though with a tantalising cliff hanger to keep readers intrigued for the next book), and then we have key plot elements that will connect up in a final book. We both agreed that we love it when it’s clear that the writers of a long book series or tv show know the ‘end game’ from the beginning, so we wanted to make sure we attempted that too. That being said, each book has to work in its own right, and the characters often have minds of their own! So even our plot for the second book has had to adapt and change based on the events of the first, but always for the better.
Which character do you connect to the most?
Zoe: Ivy is obviously a character I have really enjoyed writing, and although we aren’t alike, I do feel a sense of connection with her and I’d love to know her in real life.
Amy: Audrey is “my” point of view character, and I loved writing her! But both main characters are a blend of Zoe and I, highlighting different aspects of our personalities. I also really connect to Clover – I love her feistiness and she was great fun to write.
What’s been the highlight of writing this book?
Zoe: Getting to work with Amy! Honestly, it’s so nice co-writing because if you feel yourself having a little wobble, feeling a little insecure or unsure about something, having your co-writer to be able to message with woes and for a bit of inspiration completely changes the experience!
Amy: Aw, thank you Zoe! Working with you has been an absolute pleasure too. I loved the whole writing process, but I think the highlight for me has been actually finishing the first book! Seeing our vision come to life and turn from a huge jumbled mass of ideas into the novel it is today has been amazing. Zoe and I both so clearly knew what we wanted this book to be, but sometimes when you’re in the middle of the writing process, it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. Now that the first book is done, with the most gorgeous cover and package from the team at Penguin, I can genuinely step back and see how much work has gone into it all and how proud I am of the finished product… and how excited I am to get started on the next book!
What inspires you to keep writing on the days when the writing magic just isn’t happening?
I am my most productive and creative in those very first hours of waking upZoe Sugg
Zoe: Don’t force it and to do it during the hours of the day you feel most “Awake”. For me, that’s first thing in the morning! Once those afternoon hours creep in I know I need to put my laptop away as I can feel my brain start to slow down. I am my most productive and creative in those very first hours of waking up so I try and get as much done then as possible. If you force it you can also start to put a lot of pressure on yourself and you might not necessarily be getting your best work down on the page!
Amy: My top tip is don’t necessarily feel like you have to write a book “in order”. If you’re feeling blocked but there’s a scene coming up that you’re really excited to write, go ahead and jump to that! Sometimes if you’re excited about something, that really comes across on the page… and if it’s proving difficult to write, maybe that’s not the right scene (or you’re not in the right mindset to do it justice). Give yourself permission to jump around, and just get those words down. As long as you’re managing a little bit each day, before long you’ll have a finished book!
I also very much subscribe to what’s called the “pomodoro” method, which is to write in focused blocks of 25 minute intervals. In those 25 minutes, you don’t check social media or the internet, you don’t go to the bathroom or make a cup of tea, you just focus on the writing (even if you stare at a blank page for 25 minutes – daydreaming is writing too!). If I do two or three of those a day, I find that I’m much more productive than sitting for hours at my desk – where time normally ends up disappearing in the black hole of procrastination…
Does where you sit down to write matter, and how did you get into the mindset of each of your characters or the mood for certain scenes?
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Zoe: I have a few places I like to write, and none of them are in my office or at my work desk. I like sitting in my kitchen window at the barstool, on the sofa or the floor using the coffee table as a desk or even sat up in bed. I think wherever you feel most content, comfortable and inspired! I also can’t write in silence, so I have to have a bit of background noise! I wouldn’t say I get into the mindset, but I certainly try and channel the copious amounts of BBC Dramas I’ve watched over the years when I’m writing certain characters or storylines.
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Amy: I’ve definitely trained myself to be able to write anywhere – at my desk, on the sofa, on a train, in a coffee shop… wherever I have a pen and a notebook, I can write! Since I ended up doing the bulk of the writing in lockdown, I definitely got comfortable writing on my sofa – but I loved to have a little ritual of making myself a cup of coffee, lighting a candle, turning on my writing playlist and then setting down to work. I like to write to instrumental film scores and classical music – it puts me in a good writing headspace, even if it doesn’t quite match the atmosphere of the book.
What do you hope readers will take away from reading The Magpie Society: One For Sorrow?
Zoe: Something that they feel they can get lost in, a page-turner, connections with the characters and the urge to want to read more! Can you share something about the book that’s not n the blurb… tease us! There’s a scene in particular that unites both our female lead characters that I LOVE and it may involve a touch of nudity with a healthy dollop of girl power.
Amy: Agreed! I hope readers are gripped, intrigued, and left wanting just that little bit more. I also wonder if, like me, readers will be left wishing they could visit Illumen Hall. No spoilers, but I would definitely like to get lost in the building…
Can you share something about the book that’s not in the blurb… tease us!
Zoe: There’s a scene in particular that unites both our female lead characters that I LOVE and it may involve a touch of nudity with a healthy dollop of girl power.
Amy: Ooh yes, that’s a good one! I love it that the school itself almost becomes its own character in the book, and we find Ivy and Audrey uncovering its secrets, which are almost as dark as their own…
What are some of your top tips for aspiring novelists?
Zoe: Go at your own pace, don’t constantly compare your writing style with everyone else’s, submerge yourself in the research before writing and have fun!
My number one tip for aspiring novelists is to make sure you actually finish your book!Amy McCulloch
Amy: It’s a bit of a cliché but my number one tip for aspiring novelists is to make sure you actually finish your book! It’s so easy to get hung up on those opening pages, or get bogged down in a saggy middle, and so pushing through to the end is (in my opinion) the hardest bit. Try to quiet the voice in your head telling you that it’s no good, or that you won’t get published, or that it’s too similar to something already out there. Finishing a book is a huge accomplishment in itself, and once you’re done, you can always go back over it and make it better! But it’s impossible to edit a blank page…
What do you think is the recipe for a good book?
Zoe: For me, it’s scene-setting and descriptions, great characters and friendships, edge of your seat page-turner, drama and grit and nice big shocking twist!
Amy: Yes! I love it when a book has a setting you want to visit, characters you want to know in real life, and a mystery so intriguing, you have to keep turning the pages to know what happened.
The setting adds much to the texture of the story. Can you tell us about why you chose to set the story there?
Zoe: We loved the idea of having something along the Kent coast with the chalky hills and a pebbly beach. We also really wanted it to be set in a boarding school as we love the grandeur and eerie feel to them, especially the really old ones.
Amy: Yes! I love it when a book has a setting you want to visit, characters you want to know in real life, and a mystery so intriguing, you have to keep turning the pages to know what happened.
Best bit about having a writing partner…
Zoe: Getting to work on something with a friend and having that person to bounce ideas around with!
Amy: The fact that I get as much joy out of reading Zoe’s chapters as I do out of writing my own, and seeing the story weave together! After that, it’s getting to build this incredible world and characters with a great friend. It’s been great fun, and we’re already getting started on book two!
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